We have two shelters we're looking to adopt through to find a bonded mate for Gizmo. Two scenarios:
Shelter #1 - 20 minutes from home, encourages 2-3 dates before bringing a new bunny home, but discourages the return of a new rabbit if bonding isn't successful (which is the part I'm not fond of)
Shelter #2 - 4 hours from home, will do 1 dating session because of distance, but will allow us to try another rabbit, or return the rabbit we tried to bring home, if bonding doesn't work after 4-6 weeks.
We had our first round of dating with Shelter #1 today - met 3 rabbits. Of the 3 dates, Gizmo pretty much stayed still for all 3. Didn't show aggression towards any of the rabbits, but didn't show much interest either, just kind of sat there. There was one bunny that started to groom Gizmo, and also put her head down to have Gizmo groom her - but Gizmo didn't respond to either request, of being groomed, or grooming in return when the rabbit put her head down.
I've read that grooming is a great sign, but does that count if it's only coming from one bunny, and the other doesn't respond?
I'm trying to decide if we should go with the rabbit that groomed Gizmo, knowing if we bring her home we cannot return her.
Or if we should make the 8 hour round trip to try speed dating again with Shelter #2, knowing that if we bring a bunny home we can bring it back if bonding doesn't work out.
What to do?
Shelter #1 - 20 minutes from home, encourages 2-3 dates before bringing a new bunny home, but discourages the return of a new rabbit if bonding isn't successful (which is the part I'm not fond of)
Shelter #2 - 4 hours from home, will do 1 dating session because of distance, but will allow us to try another rabbit, or return the rabbit we tried to bring home, if bonding doesn't work after 4-6 weeks.
We had our first round of dating with Shelter #1 today - met 3 rabbits. Of the 3 dates, Gizmo pretty much stayed still for all 3. Didn't show aggression towards any of the rabbits, but didn't show much interest either, just kind of sat there. There was one bunny that started to groom Gizmo, and also put her head down to have Gizmo groom her - but Gizmo didn't respond to either request, of being groomed, or grooming in return when the rabbit put her head down.
I've read that grooming is a great sign, but does that count if it's only coming from one bunny, and the other doesn't respond?
I'm trying to decide if we should go with the rabbit that groomed Gizmo, knowing if we bring her home we cannot return her.
Or if we should make the 8 hour round trip to try speed dating again with Shelter #2, knowing that if we bring a bunny home we can bring it back if bonding doesn't work out.
What to do?